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Madrid. Brazilian superstar Kaka scored his first league goal in three months, as Real Madrid closed back to within five points of pacesetter Barcelona at the top of the Spanish top-flight with a comfortable 3-0 home win over Espanyol.

Barcelona had gone eight points clear with a 2-0 home win over Getafe earlier on Saturday, despite playing over an hour of the game with 10 men, so the pressure was on Real and they responded with an 11th consecutive home victory.

Real was without Cristiano Ronaldo, completing his two-match ban, but didn’t need the Portuguese star as goals from Sergio Ramos, Kaka and Gonzalo Higuain sealed an easy win.

Madrid got off to a great start when Ramos headed in Esteban Granero’s cross after just five minutes.

Kaka netted a second on 29 minutes after captain Raul, back in the starting lineup, saw his initial effort saved.

Kaka was all smiles after ending a run of seven league games without a goal, and this was his first goal since he netted in the 3-2 derby win over Atletico Madrid back on November 7.

“It was nice for me to score after so many games,” Kaka said. “I’m coming back from injury and just finding my best form.

“Barcelona is doing well at the moment, but we just have to continue winning our games.”

Kaka almost scored again in the second half when he rattled the post.

Argentine Higuain made his first appearance for Real following a three week layoff and came off the bench to score in the final minute to make it 3-0.

League-leading Barcelona had to show the spirit of champions to beat Getafe 2-1 at Camp Nou despite the handicap of playing 65 minutes with 10 men after Gerard Pique was sent off for a late lunge.

Barcelona had taken a fifth-minute lead with Lionel Messi curling in a brilliant effort for his 16th goal of the season, but defender Gerard Pique got a straight red card on 25 minutes for a late lunge to complicate matters.

Barca rode out the storm for a fifth consecutive win with Messi setting up Xavi for the second goal on 66 minutes and it proved crucial as Roberto Soldado scored a penalty in stoppage time.

The Getafe match was special for midfielder Andres Iniesta who made his 200th league appearance for Barca.

For Argentine center-back Gaby Milito, it was a first league start of the season as he continues his recovery following serious cruciate ligament injuries.

“Playing with one man less is always difficult and Getafe is a great team, so this was a great win,” said Milito. “On a personal level, it was nice to play 90 minutes after coming back from my injuries.”

Getafe must dust themselves down for Wednesday’s King’s Cup semifinal test against Sevilla trailing 2-0 from the first leg.

Earlier, Valencia triumphed 2-0 at home over Valladolid, moving it six points clear of fourth-place Sevilla.

“We should have won by a bigger margin,” Valencia coach Unai Emery said.

For Valladolid’s new coach, Onesimo Sanchez, who replaced Jose Luis Mendilibar, it was a disappointing start in his first game in charge and the club now lies a point above the relegation zone without a win in 2010.

  La Liga

Agence France-Presse